Matthew 27:27

οἱ στρατιῶται τοῦ ἡγεμόνος. The Procurator’s body-guard as opposed to ὅλην τὴν σπειραν.

τὸ πραιτώριον meant originally (1) the general’s tent; (2) it was then used for the residence of the governor or prince, cp. Acts 23:35; (3) then for an official Roman villa or country house; (4) barracks especially for the Prætorian guard; (5) the Prætorian guard itself (Philippians 1:13). The second meaning (2) is to be preferred here.

ὅλην τὴν σπεῖραν, ‘the whole maniple.’ The article is explained by a passage of Josephus, B. J. 27:5. 8, where it is stated that during the great festivals a ‘maniple.’ (σπεῖρα or τάγμα, see Schweighäuser’s Lex. Polyb. sub voc. τάγμα) was kept under arms to quell any disturbance that might arise. It was this body that was sent to arrest Jesus λαβὼν τὴν σπεῖραν, John 18:3. Cp. Acts 21:31, where allusion is made to the same force, ἀνέβη φάσις τῷ χιλιάρχῳ τῆς σπείρης ὅτι ὅλη συγχύννεται Ἱερουσαλήμ. The manipulus was the thirtieth part of the Roman legion, and the third part of a cohort, consisting therefore nominally of 200 men. Cp. Theophylact (quoted by Wetstein), κουστωδία ξʼ (60) ἐστι στρατιωτῶν ἡ δὲ σπεῖρα σʼ (200). This agrees with the number of the escort sent to conduct Paul to Cæsarea, Acts 23:23. There seems to be no good reason for translating σπεῖρα ‘cohort,’ in Acts 10:1. Polyb. says expressly (xi. 23, 1) τρεῖς σπείρας· τοῦτο δὲ καλεῖται τὸ σύνταγμα τῶν πεζῶν παρὰ Ῥωμαίοις κοόρτις.

The word itself, σπεῖρα, anything twisted round like a ball of thread, is a translation of ‘manipulus’ (a wisp of hay).